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Marc h 22 . 201 2 

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: I ! Th e Honorabl e Ray LaHoocl , Secretary Unite dSlate s Departmen t o f Transportatio n 1200 Ne w Jerse y Ave. , S E Washington , D C 2059 0 Dea r Secretary LaHood : We are writin g regardin g Essentia l Ai r Servic e (EAS ) a

t Alpena , Ndichigan . A s yo u know , th e Departmen t o f Transportatio n issue da

n orde r re-solicitin g proposal s lo r athir dtim e o n Januar y 10 , 2012 . Proposal s wer e du e by January 31 . 2012 . On January 30 , 201 2 Matthe w Waligora , Mayo r o f Alpen arequeste dthat

th e Departmen t

exten dth e reques t

fo r proposa l tim e perio dbeyon dJanuary 31 , 2012 . h i response , th e Departmen t issue danotic e o f

extensio n statin g tha t "w e recogniz e th e importanc e th e community place s o n thi s issue , an dthu s wil l gran t atwo-wee k extension. " A

t th e en do f

thi s tim e period , onl y on e bi dwa s submitte dthat was strongl y rejecte db y th e community . A s you wil l note fromth e enclose dcorrespondence , th e Alpen aCit y Council . Alpen aCounty Commission . .'\lpen aCounty Regional Airport . Alpen aAre aChambe r o f Commerc e an dth e Targe t Alpen aEconomi c Developmen t

Offic e al l reques t

tha t th e Departmen t

rejec t th e curren t

bi dproposa l an dissu e anothe r reques t fo r proposals . Mos t

recentl y th e community ha s contacte dSkyWes t Airline s an dAmerican Eagl e Airline s a s wel l a s begu n discussion s abou t applyin g fo

r Alternat e Essential Ai r

Servic e funding . Providin g mor e tim e t o pursu e thes e discussion s coul dresul t i n a n ai r servic e provide r

bein g foundthat

i s supporte dby th e community . W e as k that th e Departmen t

re-issu e th e reques t

fo r proposals . W

e believ e that

thi s additiona l tim e wil l onl y strengthe n th e option s availabl e to th e community a s the y pursu e areplacemen t to Delt aAirlines . Thank yo u fo r you r attentio n t o thi s matter . You r respons e may b e directe dt o ou r regiona l office s a

t th e addresse s below . Sincerely , Car

l Levi n 10 7 Cas s Street , Suit e E Travers e City , M l 4968 4 Debbi e Stabeno w South Airpor

t Roa dWest , Suit e 6 B fravers c Citv , M I 4968 4

Da n Benishe k 81 0 S . Otseg o Ave. . Suit e 105 Gavlord, M

I 4973 5 Enclosur e

# City o f

Alpen a

Marc h 19,201 2 U.S . Senato rCar l Levi n 26 9 Russel l Offic e Buildin g Washington , D C 20510-220 2 RE : Alpen a Ai rServic e Dea rSenato rLevin , A s yo u ar e aware , th e U.S . Departmen t of Transportatio n wil l b e makin g a decisio n verysoo n regardin g th e curren t roun d of bid s fo rEA S fundin g t o provid e ai rservic e t o Alpena , Michigan . Wit h th e suppor t o f th e Alpen a Cit yCouncil , th e Alpen a Count yCommissioners , th e Alpen a Count yRegiona l Airpor t Manager , th e Alpen a Are a Chambe ro f Commerce , an d th e Targe t Alpen a Economi c Developmen t Director , th e Mayo rof Alpen a requeste d tha t th e DO T rejec t th e curren t bi d proposa l an d ope n a fourt h cycle , an d w e ar e askin g yo u t o suppor t ou rdecision . Thi s entir e proces s ha s bee n verycostl yan d tim e consumin g fo rth e leader s of ou rcommunit y an d w e fee l tha t ou rloca l ta xpayer s deserv e mor e tim e fo ru s t o finis h wha t w e hav e started . An d th e federa l ta xpayer s deserv e t o kno wtha t EA S fundin g i s bein g spen t a s efficientl yan d effectivel ya s possible . W e hav e forme d a team of representative s fro m eac h of th e abov e name d entitie s an d secure d th e service s of a professiona l airlin e consultant . Sinc e then , w e hav e visite d SkyWes t Airline s an d the ystrongl yconsidere d biddin g i n th e thir d round . W e hav e als o bee n i n direc t contac t wit h America n Eagl e Airlines . W e ar e i n activ e discussion s wit h Publi c Charter s an d jus t tw o day s ag o learne d tha t thei ralternativ e EA S fundin g proposa l wa s approve d t o provid e servic e t o Manistee , Michigan . Thi s progra m i s new , s o therefor e wil l tak e u s tim e t o lear n an d understan d i f i t wil l fi t th e need s o f ou rcommunity .W e understan d th e DOT' s responsibilit yt o reliev e Delt a of it s obligation t o provid e ai rservic e t o

ou rcommunity , bu t w e als o hav e a responsibilit yt o ou rconstituent s an d fee l tha t i t i s no t askin g to o muc h t o giv e u s mor e time , measure d i n months , t o d o wha t i s i n th e bes t interes t o f everyon e i n Northeas t Michigan . W e hav e mad e grea t stride s i n th e las t severa l weeks , bu t al l tangibl e offer s ar e hingin g o n on e decisio n o ranothe ran d we'r e tol d tha t i t wil l tak e som e tim e befor e an ycommitment s ca n b e mad e b yairline s tha t ar e considerin g a n agreemen t wit h Alpena . Th e Alpen a Cit yCounci l unanimousl yapprove d th e content s of thi s lette ran d strongl yurge s yo u t o ech o ou rvoic e t o th e U.S . Departmen t of Transportation . Than k yo u fo ryou rattentio n t o thi s matte ran d fo rrepresentin g ou rgrea t communit yan d it s growin g economy . Sincerely , Matthe w J . Waligor a Mayo ro f Alpen a



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